Food produce packing apparatus



A ril 20, 1965 w. M. MARTIN, JR 3,178,867

FOOD PRODUCE PACKING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 16, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I I I I I I l I I ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,178,867 F001) PRODUCE PACKING APPARATUS William M. Martin, .112, 92 East River Road, Grand Island, NY. Filed Feb. 16, 1%1, Ser. No. 89,868 Claims. (Cl. 53-248) This invention relates generally to the material handling art. More specifically, this invention is directed to a new and useful method of and apparatus for packing produce into containers.

It is known to empty produce from containers by immersing the latter in a liquid, and enabling the produce to float away from the containers. In addition, my pending application Serial No. 755,035, filed August 14, 1958, now Patent No. 3,023,898, dated March 6, 1962, discloses means for grading floating produce.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for packing produce by floating the same into containers therefor, thereby substantially eliminating the labor previously consumed in the hand packing of produce.

In one aspect thereof, the method of packing produce into containers in accordance with my invention comprises, floating the produce in a liquid medium, and then circulating the liquid medium and floating produce over the open top of a perforate container and downwardly into the container, the liquid passing outwardly through the container and the produce being packed therein by such circulation.

A produce packing apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is characterized in one aspect thereof by the provision of a flotation compartment, a loading compartment, means for filling the flotation compartment to a predetermined level with liquid, means for supporting an open-top perforate container in the loading compartment, the container top being positioned substantially below the liquid level in the flotation compartment, means for selectively filling the loading compartment to substantially said predetermined level with liquid, means for selectively draining liquid from the loading compartment independently of the flotation compartment, and selectively operable means for admitting only the upper level of liquid from the flotation compartment, together with the produce floating therein, into said loading compartment.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and characterizing features of the flotation method and apparatus of my invention will become clearly apparent from the ensuing detailed description of one, presently preferred, illustrative embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the various views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one form of flotation packing apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the open position of the loading compartment access door in phantom;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, with parts broken away for ease of illustration, showing in phantom the manner in which the containers are moved to and from the loading compartment;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view thereof; taken about on line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, detail view of the access door locking mechanism.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment depicted in the accompanying drawings, it will be observed that the apparatus of my invention comprises a compartmented structure, generally designated 1, having a "ice bottom wall 2, opposite side walls 3, and a front wall 4. The structure 1 is divided, by interior walls 5, into three separate flotation compartments A, B, and C, although a lesser, or larger, number of flotation compartments could of course be provided. The structure 1 is further subdivided, by the interior walls 6 (FIG. 2) and 7 (FIG. 4), to provided a loading compartment D.

Structure 1 can have any suitable supporting base, and includes as the fourth wall of loading compartment D a hinged wall section 8 which, in closed position, lies in the plane of wall 4. Wall section 8 comprises an access door which is supported on wall 4 by hinges 9 for selective movement to an open, horizontal position as illustrated in phantom in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The hinged access door 8 facilitates placement of the container to be filled, designated 16, in the loading compartment D, and its removal therefrom. To this end, door 8 is provided with rollers 11 journaled in brackets 12 for rolling support of the container 19. The bottom wall 2 of loading compartment D has corresponding rollers 11. With this construction, when it is desired to place a container 10 in the loading compartment, or to remove a container 16 therefrom, the door 8 is swung downwardly to its horizontal position, illustrated in phantom in FIGS. 1 and 2. The container 10 then is rolled in or out of the loading compartment D, which avoids any necessity for lifting and lowering the container into and out of the loading compartment D.

Door 8 is releasably locked in its closed position, shown in full lines in the drawings, by a locking bar 14 journaled in brackets 15, 15 supported on the front wall 4. A pawl latch 16 is pivoted on bracket 15' for engaging a ratchet 17 which is rotated by and upon pivoting of latch bar 14 in response to manipulation of its actuating handle 18. Thus, it will be appreciated that when it is desired to swing door 8 to its lowered position, lever 18 is swung rearwardly, over front wall 4, to lift the locking bar 14 out of the way and permit lowering of door 8. When it is desired to lock the access door, lever 18 is swung to the position illustrated in the drawings and pawl 16 engages ratchet 17 to lock the lever and bar in that position.

The flotation chambers A, B, C are designed to be filled with water, or other flotation liquid, to the level E shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Separate flotation compartments are provided, to simultaneously accommodate different sizes or grades of produce, or even different kinds of produce. The particular embodiment of my apparatus shown in the drawings is primarily intended for repacking produce after it has been sorted, but it will be appreciated that my invention is not so limited. For clarity of illus tration, produce is shown only in the compartment B, but the operation is the same with respect to either compartmen't.

The produce F, shown in the drawings as comprising apples, is delivered to the flotation compartments A, B and C by any desired means, and the flotation compartments are filled with liquid from any appropriate source. The produce in compartment B is normally held against passage into loading compartment D by a hinged upper section 6 of wall 6. Wall section 6' extends across the width of compartment B and when in its closed position, illustrated in FIG. 1, prevents passage of the produce from the flotation compartment B into the loading cornpantment Dv Wall section 6' is hinged at 20, and provided with a manipulating handle 21 designed so that its head 22 is past center when wall section 6' is in its closed position. In this way, wall section 6' is held in closed position by the action of gravity on the handle head 22. Corresponding wall sections 7' are provided between compartments A and D, and compartments B and D, these movable wall sections 7' being hinged to their associated walls 7 at 23. Wall sections 7', like hinged wall section 6, have actuating handles 24 with weighted heads 25 so designed that they will hold the wall sections in closed position, shown in FIG. 4, by the action of gravity alone.

It will be appreciated that the closed position assumed by wall section 6 corresponds to that assumed by Wall I It is a particular feature of my invention that the trans fer of produce F from flotation compartments A, B, and

C to loading compartment D is accomplished very smooth- -ly, so,as not to injure the produce in any way. To this end, the loading compartment D is first filled with flota tion liquid to substantially the level E. While this could be accomplished in other ways, I prefer to derive the liquid for filling compartment D from one of the flotation com partrnents, which is connected to a suitable source of sup ply, not shown. In the illustrated embodiment, a conduit 27 is provided through wall 6 from loadingcompartment D to flotationcompartment B. This conduit canbe selectively opened and closed by a pivoted valve 28 which is selectivelyturned by means of a crank arm 29 con nected to valve 28 for movement therewith and connected by a link 30 to an actuating handle 31., To drain loading compartment D, I'PEIOVldC a drain passage 32 communicating with the bottom of compartment D. Drain passage 32 is controlled by a pivoted valve 33 which is actuated bya handle 34 connected thereto by a link 35 and crank arm 36.

- In use, loading compartment D will have been drained,.

through passage 32, and the hinged wall sections 6', 7

willbe in their upper closed position, t-o hold back the floating produce Fin the various compartments A, B, and

C. A container 10, of perforate open top construction, is rolled over rollers 11, into the compartment D. Then, access do=or 8 is swung to its closed position. Once door 8 :is locked in closed position, valve 2 8 is opened to permit flotation liquid to flow from compartment B into compartment D, where it will seek its own level at B. At this point, loading compartment D will be filled with flotation 4 which is easily carried out. The method and apparatus of this invention are easily controlled by a single operator. It will be appreciated that the foregoing detailed disclosure is given by way of illustration only, without thought of limitation, and that the; samecan be varied in v its details withoutdeparting from myinventive concept and the scope of .the appendedclaims. For example, other types of valves and actuating 'IIlGlJjlbfil'SWlll readily occur to those skilled in the art, 'andcan be used in place of those shown, without in any way departing from the spirit ofmyinvention. W I

Having fully disclosed and completely described my in-,

vention, together with its mode of operation, what I claim as new is:

Food produce packing apparatus comprising, a flotation compartment, a loading compartment, means for 7 filling said flotation compartment to a predetermined level with liquid, means for. supporting a perforate container open at the top in said loading compartment with the container .top positioned substantially below said predetermined level, rneansfor selectively filling said loading compartment to substantially said predetermined. level with liquid, barrier wallmeans blocking the flow of liquid .and produce floating therein from said flotation compartment into said loading compartment, means for selectively draining liquid from said loading compartment in-- dependently of said floation compartment, and selectively.

operable IIlBEtIlStEOI admitting only -theupper level of liquid from said flotation compartment and the produce floating therein into said loading compartment.

2. Food produce packing apparatus comprising, mulitiple flotation compartments, a loading compartment ad-f jacent'said floation compartments, means for filling said flotation compartments to a predetermined level with liquid, means for supporting a perforate container open at the :top in said loading compantment, meansflor selectively' filling said. loading compartment to substantially I 'said predetermined levelwithliquid, barrier wall means liquid to the same level as the flotation compartment,

whereupon the appropriate wall section 6 or 7, as the case may be, will be swung to its lowered position, as illustrated in the case of wall section 6' in FIG. 2 Then valve 28 is closed and valve 33 ispartially opened, as illustrated liquid downwardly through container 10.

vAs a result of this circulation, the floating produce F- is caused tofloat into the loading compartment D, over the container, 10,.and then downwardlyinto the container.

'Ilhe degree of drainage through passage 32 is regulated, so that thefloating produce in loading compartment D. is

in FIG. 2, thereby producing a circulation of flotation Z moved downwardly into the. container 10 by the circulatign of ,theliquid and the, floating produce subsequently entering'the loading compartment behind and over the,

produce already, there. It has been demonstrated that this will cause'the container to fill with produce quickly,

and without bruising the produce. When container 10 is full, the hinged wall section. 6' or 7., as-thecase may be,

isw swung to closed position, and loading compartment D- is drained of liquid, throughjpassage32. .The packed container 10 is removedby lowering access door8 and rolling the container out of the loading compartment, following whichthe loading and packing procedure is repeated.

shown, are provided between the relatively movable Wallparts. The flotation liquid canbe recirculated, if desired, using conventional pumps and accessories.

,Accordingly, it isseen that my'invention fullyv accomv plishes its intended objects, and pr'ovidesan apparatus which is relatively simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, together with a method preventing flow of liquid .from said floation compartments into said load-ing compartment, means for selectively draining liquid from said, loading compartment independently of said flotation compartments, and selectively oper-' able means for admitting only the upper level of liquid from any of saidflotation compartments and the produce floating therein into said loading, compartment.

3. Food produce packing apparatus comprising, a flo-- tation compartment, a loading compartmengmeans for filling said flotation compartment to a predetermined level with liquid, means for supporting a perforate container open at the top in said loading compartment with the container top positioned substantially below: said predetermined level, means forselectively filling said loading compartment to substantially said predetermined level with liquid, barrierwall means blocking thefiow of liquid and, produce floating therein from said flotation compartment into said loading compartment, means for selectively draining liquid from said loading compa-ritment independentlyiof said flotation compartment, and selectively operable means for admitting only the upperlevelof liquidirom said flotation compartment and the produce floating thereon into said loading compartment,said.loading compartment having an .accessdoor movable between an upright closedposit-ion and a generally horizontal open position, androller means on said door andacross the bottom of said loading compartment for rolling containers into and outof said loading compartment. 4.. Foodproduce packing apparatus. comprising, a flotation compartment, a loading-compantment, means for filling said flo ation compartment toa predetermined level with liquid, means for supporting a perforate container open at the top -in said loading compartment with the containertop positioned substantially below said predetermined level, me-ans for selectively filling said loading compartment to substantially. said predetermined level with liquid, means for selectively drainingliquid from sa d loading compartment independently of said floation compartment, and selectively operable means for admitting only the upper level of liquid from said flotation compartment and the produce floating therein into said loading compartment, said flotation compartment being separated from said loading compartment by a barrier wall blocking the flow of liquid from said flotation compartment into said loading compartment, and said last-named means including an upper Wall section of said bar-I161" Wall mounted for movement between a closed position blocking the passage of floating produce into said loading compartment and an open position permitting such passage.

5. Food produce packing apparatus comprising, a flotation compartment, a loading compartment, means for filling said flotation compartment to a predetermined level with liquid, means for supporting a perforate container open at the top in said loading compartment with the container top positioned substantially below said predetermined level, means for selectively filling said loading compartment to substantially said predetermined level With liquid, means for selectively draining liquid from said loading compartment independently of said flotation compartment, and selectively operable means or admitting only the upper level of liquid from said flotation compartment and the produce floating therein into said loading compartment, said loading compartment having an access door movable between an upright closed position and a generally horizontal open position, and rollers on said door and across the bottom of said loading comp-artment fo-r rolling containers into and out of said loading compartment, said flotation compartment being separated from said loading compartment by a Wall, and said lastnamed means including a wall section mounted on said wall for movement between a closed position blocking the passage of floating produce into said loading compartment and an open position permitting such passage.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,507,864 =9/24 Smith 99l71 2,628,907 2/53 Darden 99-171 2,647,670 8/53 Cox 53-248 2,658,651 11/53 St-ryker 53-248 X 2,660,529 11-1/53 Bloom 9917l 2,668,651 2/54- Jansen 53-248 A. LOUIS MONACEIJL, Primary Examiner.

ABRAHAM H. WINKELSTEIN, RAYMOND N.

JONES, Examiners. 

1. FOOD PRODUCE PACKING APPARATUS COMPRISING, A FLOTATION COMPARTMENT, A LOADING COMPARTMENT, MEANS FOR FILLING SAID FLOTATION COMPARTMENT TO A PREDETERMINED LEVEL WITH LIQUID, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A PERFORATE CONTAINER OPEN AT THE TOP IN SAID LOADING COMPARTMENT WITH THE CONTAINER TOP POSITIONED SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW SAID PREDETERMINED LEVEL, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY FILLING SAID LOADING COMPARTMENT TO SUBSTANTIALLY SAID PREDETERMINED LEVEL WITH LIQUID BARRIER WALL MEANS BLOCKING THE FLOW OF LIQUID AND PRODUCE FLOATING THEREIN FROM SAID FLOTATION COMPARTMENT INTO SAID LOADING COMPARTMENT, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY DRAINING LIQUID FROM SAID LOADING COMPARTMENT INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID FLOATION COMPARTMENT, AND SELECTIVELY OPERABLE MEANS FOR ADMITTING ONLY THE UPPER LEVEL OF LIQUID FROM SAID FLOTATION COMPARTMENT AND THE PRODUCE FLOATING THEREIN INTO SAID LOADING COMPARTMENT. 